Team dsm-firmenich PostNL make history; sprint to Tour de France Femmes win with Charlotte Kool

Getting the Tour de France Femmes underway in incredible fashion, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL took charge of the day, riding as a unit, before setting-up fast finisher Charlotte Kool for the finale. Kool showed all of her power and unleashed a monstrous sprint, lapping up the plaudits as she crossed the line victorious in The Hague; as the team moves into the race lead and the famous yellow jersey. This comes just after the Men’s program did exactly the same with Romain Bardet taking a fantastic stage win and first yellow jersey at the men’s Tour de France.
Always set to be a sprint finale, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL rode a smart race, making sure that they were at the front when they needed to be to stay out of danger, whilst not wasting any unnecessary energy. Coming into the closing ten kilometres the pace and nervousness went up but the team kept a cool head, holding onto the right side of the road as they navigated the twists and turns of the city streets. Expertly positioned by the whole team, Kool followed the rest of the squad as they charged under the flamme rouge, before she sensed her moment to go all-out once the last turn by the team was finished. Launching early, no-one was able to match Kool who romped home to the victory by several bike lengths; raising her arms in jubilation as she crossed the line.
It marks a historic day for Team dsm-firmenich PostNL, as the team will proudly wear the yellow jersey for the second time this year; and is the first ever team in history to win the opening stage of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes with their Men’s and Women’s programs.
A delighted Kool said: “It’s unbelievable, it’s a dream come true. It wasn’t an easy season for me so far, but this is what it is all about. I want to thank the team who always kept believing in me, all of the people around me, just everyone. This is unbelievable. It was really hectic but the girls did a really good job to keep me safe. Then in the sprint it was chaotic but I like that. I went so early and thought it might have been too long but it was enough in the end. There are no words, I’m so happy. I think this is the best day of my life, everything came together for us today.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Albert Timber added: “Everyone is really happy. If you have to win a stage in the Tour, then it is best to win the first one of course. The team did really well. We had a good plan and we really stuck to it, and the way Charlotte finished it off was at a really high level. There aren’t so many chances to win close to home, so it is really special for us. It’s a once and a lifetime chance. It’s pretty special to win the first stage outside of France in this race, and even more special that it is on our home Dutch soil. Everyone in the team can be proud of today.”